Tour de France Stage 9 Pierrick Fedrigo for Bbox Wins Stage

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Laurens Ten Dam | Photo 05

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The Tour de France Stage 9 saw Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo for Bbox win today.  He and Franco Pellizotti for Liquigas came in one two at the end of a gruelling 160 km run through the mountains of the Pyrenees from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes.  The pair took the lead early in the day and were never swept up in the peloton.  At one time there was a chase group of nine riders, but they got absorbed into the peloton.

There is a new King of the Mountain today.  Egoi Martinez for Euskatel-Euskadi climbed to the lead on the steep Pyrenees.    

The peloton remained tightly grouped for most of the race.  With a long downhill run after the second peak of the day, it looked as if the Tour leaders are saving their battles for the mountain top finishes.

The Tour continues to supply surprises.  On the final descent of the day Rabobank rider, Laurens Ten Dam had a nasty fall but recovered, bloody and jersey shredded, to finish with the peloton.  Sprinter Andy Schleck, Saxobank, suffered a flat just outside the 3 km mark but recovered with his teammates help to also finish in the peloton.

The overall standings will remain the same as yesterday with Nocentini for AG2R keeping the yellow for the next ride.  Alberto Contador is second place and Lance Armstrong is riding in third, both for Astana.

Tomorrow is a rest day in Limoges.  Tuesday the Tour rides from Limoge to Issoudun, a distance of 194.5 km.